Centering-form apparatus for concrete-floor construction



April 27 1926. 1,582,582

E. E. DAVIS OENTERING FORM APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 39. 1925 4 Sheets-Shaet 1 I l H 3 u W April 27 1926.

- E. E. DAVIS csmmum FORM APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE FLOOR conszpnucnon April 27 1926. 1,582,582

E. E. DAVI CENTERING PORII APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 30, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 27 1926.

1,582,582 5.5. DAVIS CENTERING FOR]! APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 39, 1925 4 Sheets-.-Sh'eet.4

wardj @025 T i so Fatented Apr. 27, 1926,

anwaan E. Davis, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GENTERING-FORM APPARATUS FOR CQNGBETE-FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed lilovember so, 1925. Serial No. 72,166.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Chicago, in the county of Cool: and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Centering-Form Apparatus for Concrete-Floor Construction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in centering form apparatus for concrete floor construction and is here shown as embodied in a device especially adapted for constructing concrete floors in steel buildings between steel girders, or beams, with ceiling beams underneath. V

Among the features of my invention is the provision of. apparatus that. may be readily put in place and removed without breakage, thus permitting repeated use of the same apparatus with a consequent saving in expense. I

My improved apparatus is also so designed that it may be readily adjusted to different dimensions For example, the same apparatus may be used between steel girders having difl'erent distances of separation. Because of this construction, it is not necessary to have so many difierent pieces of companying drawings- I Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a concrete floor constructed by the use of my apparatus; Fig. 2 is a viewtaken as indicated by V the line 2 of Fig. .1; Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by the line 3ofFig. 1; Fig. at is a view taken on the line l of Fig. 5,

showing in side elevationone of the joist members forming a part of my apparatus and showing the same in. place between two steel I-beams, and also showing in side elevation we of the pans in place; Fi a f is a hankering; plan view Jofthe aliiparatus in. lace betweeatec steel I-beams; Fig. 6

is a view on an enlarged scale taken as indicated by the line 6 of Fig. 7 Fig. 7 is a top plan View on an, enlarged scale taken as indicated by the line 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is. a detail view of the spreader and support- .ing member taken as indicated by line 8 of F ig.'9; Fig. 9 isa sectional view taken as indicated by line 9 of Fig. 5; Fig. 10 is a view taken on line 10 of Fig. 6; an'dFig. 11 is a broken top plan view showing spreaders arranged in oblique positions.

Briefly stated, in general, the apparatus I comprises a plurality, of joists adapted to be parallelly mounted between steel I-beams and supported by sliding bolts atthe end of each joist guided forreciprocal movement and having their outer ends adapted to rest on the upper surfaces of the'lower flanges of said I-beams. Each joist carries on its upper edge a fiat soffit boardthroughout its entire length. Mounted on the sides of the joists are cleats, or stirrups, adapted to support between each pair of joists a plurality of Spreaders. Mounted on the spreaders between each pair of joists is an inverted sheet-metal pan formed of four sections; each section having a vertical side face, a vertical end face, and a horizontal top face. The faces of the four sections ofeach pan are adapted to overlap. each other so that the completed panis closed at the top and the four sides, but open at the bottom, the

ible both longitudinally and transversely. Ihe spreaders carry uprights on the upper, ends-of which rests a beam' adapted to support the underside of the pan throughout its length at the center. Each of the spread ers has a vertical side and a horizontal side with the vertical side cut away near the ends. A longitudinally arranged bar extending across the ends of the spreaders is adapted to bear'against the inner surface of the lower edgeof the vertical side ofthe pan and against the vertical side of the spreader in order to hold the side face of the pan tightly against the edge or the soflit board. The apparatus is so arranged as to permit the easy removal of the spreaders, thereby also permitting the pans to be dropped down between the joists, and the joists themselves removed. i I will now'dcscribe the apparatus more in particular. As shown in the drawings, 10, ill) indicate parallel Lbeam girders formoverlapping faces making the same extenstoo ing a part of the steel structure of a building. 11 indicates the completed concrete floor and 11 the concrete ceiling beams formed on the underside of the floor proper and integral therewith. it) indicates the lower flange ot' the I-beam 10. 11 indicates the concrete surrounding the I-beam 10 and formed integral vith the floor 11 and ceiling beams 11. The parts so far referred to are possibly bestshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, all of which show the completed floor with all the centering form apparatus removed.

In Figs. -1 to 11, inclusive, is shown the centering form apparatus and the method of putting it in place for the purpose of molding, forming, laying, or casting the completed tloor. The apparatus includes a joist 12 preferably formed from a wooden timber, or planl', on edge, having on its upper edge a flat soltit board 13 extending substantially throughout its entire length. The ends of the joist 12 are provided with sliding bolts guided for reciprocal movement and adapted to support the joist between two Ibeams 10. 1 1 (5 and 7) indicates an inverted U-shaped guiding member passing over the joist 12. 15 indicates a U-shaped guiding member, nearer the end of the joist 12, passing under the joist 12. Both guiding members 14-, and 15 have lateral flanges 16 provided with openings 34, through which the sliding bolts 17 are reciprocally slidable. As the joist 12 is supported upon the sliding bolt 17 by the web of guiding member 15 under the joist 12 and the web of guiding member 14 on the joist 12, the means for fastening the two guiding members to the joint are not required to sustain much strain and may be of any suitable kind, such as screws, nails, etc., and the guiding members therefore may be easily adjusted to any desired position along the joist. The inner ends 18 of the bolts 17 are turned downwardly below joists 12 to form operating handles. A slight swing of the handles at right angles to the bolt will cause the bolts to turn thus breaking the hold of the concrete and thereupon the bolts may be readily withdrawn without breakage of the concrete. The outer ends of the bolts 17 are adapted to rest on the upper surface of the lower flange 10 of the I-beam 10 (see Figs. (3 and 7). hen the outer ends of the sliding bolts 17 rest upon the lower flange 10 of the I- beam 10, the weight of the joist is sutlicient in itself to hold the sliding bolt in the guiding members.

The joist 12 is provided 011 each side with a plurality of cleats, or stirrups, l9, fastened by nails or other suitable means to the joist: 12. As-many of these stirrups are provided as may be necessary. depending upon the length of the joist.v I have here shown each joist provided with three stirrups on each SING.

Between each pair of joists are provid d a series of s ireaders 20 adapted to rest on the stirrups 11). ()ne of these s n'eaders: i. IH'UlP ably best shown in Figs. 5, t and 11. The spreader is a member L-shaped in cros section with a vertically lispo.-ed side 2 and a horizontally disposed side 21) and having the vertical side 2b cut away near the ends. When in position tor 't'ormiug th floor, the ends of the splcaders 2 re t on the cleats, or stirrups, 1!), as shown in Fig 9 and 11. It the spreaders it) are too long to be placed in a position at right angles to two joists 12. they may be arranged in oblique positions, the supporting cleats. or stirrups, it) being attached to the joists at the proper places, as shown in Figs. 5 and 11. The spreader-s 20 may be removed by lfllw'hing their ends oil the cleats, or stirrups.

Each spreader carries substantially at its center a vertically adjustable U-shaped support 21 adapted to carry a pan-suprairting member 27 here shown as comprising a plank set on edge. Each ot the supporr: 21 (Fig. 5)) is mounted on a horizontall bent top portion 39 ot the upright 2 and rotatably secured thereto by a pin The up right 22 is provided with a vertical ."tt'ltri ol' perforations 37 adapted to register with perforations in the side 26 of the spreader 24! and is secured in the desired position by means of a bolt 21 and nut Between each pair of joists 12 is mounted a rectangular shaped pan formed of i'our sections preferably made of sheet-metal. These sections are indicated by 28, four of them forming one complete pan. Each of the sections 28 has a rectangular shaped horizontal top face, a vertical side face and a vertical end face. The four sections are placed together as shown in Figs. +1, 5 and i). so that together they form a rectangular shaped pan closed at the top, sides and ends, but having the bottom open. By overlapping the top faces, side faces, and end faces of the various sections, the pan may he made longer or shorter, or narrower or wider, as desired. \Vhen in the desired position, the top faces of the various sections of the pan are rigidly secured to the supporting member 27 by nails, or other suitable means. In putting the apparatus in place. the joists 12 are first mounted between the I-bea1ns 10, the stnrups 19 and rprcadcrs 2 put in place, and then sheet-metal pans formedof the sections 28 placed on top of the spreaders 20 (Figs, 1, and 5)), with the lower edges of the side faces of the pan resting on the ends oi the spreaders. In re ferring to a pan, I mean four sections placed together. Each pan is so adjusted that its sides 28 will touch the edges ot the sollit boards 13. The length of each pan is adjusted so that it will be about one inch longer on each end than the joi. s 12. In

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 9, I have shown the joists, spreader-s and pans in place. The supports 21 are so adjusted that the plank 27 will support the center of the pan throughout substantially its entire length (Figs. 9 and 29 li s. and 9) represents a beam, or plank, 13 across the ends of the spreaders 20 againstthe side face 28* ofthe pan and vertical side 26 of the spreaders 20 and serving to force the lower edge of the side face of the pan outwardly against the soffit board 13.

Under each of the I-beams (Fig. 6) is supported a board 30 substantially wide enough to .meet the ends of the joists 12 on the opposite sides of the l-beam 10. The supporting means comprises a rod 32 passing through openings 33 in the lateral flanges 16 of the guiding member on joists 12 on opposite sides of the Ibeam 10. Filler boards 31 are provided to fill the space between the lower edges of the end faces 28* of the pans and the boards 30. Each of these boards comprises an upper part 31 and a lower part 61". The upper part 81 lies above the bolt 17 and the lower part 31 lies below the bolt 17 and is nailed or otherwise suitably fastened to the edge of the board 30. The lower edge of the part 81 is suitably notched with semi-circular I notches in order to accommodate-the bolt 17,

' and 15 have two series of openings.

'm'ay be any number of openings in each and the upper edge of the part 31 is similarly notched. The parts 31 of the filler boards project up inside of the end faces 28 of the pans. ,It will be noted that the board 3 together with the parts 31 form a sort of trough under the I-bea'm 10.

The flanges 16 of the guiding members 14 There series. One series 34 is adapted to receive the sliding bolt 17, and the upper series 33 is adapted to receive the supporting rod 32. As an example, I have shown two openings in each series. The openings in each series are so spacedthat the distance between centers of similar openings in each series is substantially the same. By this arrange ment, the joist 12 may be raised or lowered by passing the bolt 17 through the proper opening in theseries 34, and placing the supporting rod 32 in corresponding opening in the series By this arrangement, the distance between the lower surface of the lower flange 10 of the I-beam lOand the the same thickness of concrete below the lower flange of the I-beam irrespectivefof the raising or lowering of the joists :12.

Such raising or lowering of the joists 12 may be desirable in order to adapt the apparatus to I-beams 10 of difierentheights,

ous parts are assembled as shown in Figs. l

to 11 inclusive, and the concrete is then poured overthe entire apparatus up to the level as indicated by 11 in Fig. 4:, this constituting the upper face of the floor. It will be seen that concrete will flow down between the pans on top of the soliit boards 13 to form the ceiling bean'is 1 and that concrete will also flow down around each of the I-beams ill on top of the board 30 between the ends 28 of the pans and the filler boards 31 to form the concrete 11 (Fig. 6) around the l-beam. After the concrete has set sufficiently, the spreaders :20 may be removed by knocking them off the cleats, or stirrups, nntil their ends clear the stirrups, whereupon without departing from the spirit and scope 1 of the invention as disclosed in the appended he may be dropped down between the joists V claims in which it is my intention to claim 7 all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible, in view of the prior art.

ll hat I claim as new, and desire to secure i bylietters Patent, is:

- 1. In apparatus of the character de scribed; a joist; means for supporting the joist by its ends between parallel steel girdcrs, said supporting means comprising guiding members on the joist and a sliding bolt slidable in said guiding members in a plane substantially parallel with the upper surface of the lower flange of one of said girders and resting on said surface. i

2. In apparatus of the character described: a joist: meausfor supporting the joist by its ends beiween parallel steel girders, said supporting means comprising guid ing members on the joist and asliding bolt slidable in said guiding members and adapted to have its outer end rest on one of said girders and having its inner end bent downwardl y and extending below said oist.

V 3. In apparatus of the character described; a joist; means for supporting the joist by its ends between parallel steel girders, said supporting means comprising spaced members having openings and a slidable bolt reciprocallymovable therethrongh in a plane substantially parallel with the upper surface ot the lower flange of one of said girders and resting on said surface.

4. ln apparatus of the character described: a joist: means for supporting the joist by its ends between parallel steel girders. said supporting means comprising at each end of the joist an inverted U-shaped guiding nieniher passing over the joist and a U-shaped guiding member near the end ot the joist. pi sing beneath the joist: lateral flanges on said guiding iiie nbers containing openings therein. and slidable bolts reciprocally movable through said openings and adapted to have their outer ends rest upon said girders.

5. ln ahharatiis oi the character described: a plurality oi joisti; means for supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders. said sup 'iorting means comjirising guiding members. on the joists and sliding bolts slidable in said guiding members and adapted to have their out r ends rest on said girders: a trough adap ed to be supported under one of said girders; and a supporting rod adapted to support the bottom of said trough under one o t said girders. said supporting rod passing through said guiding members on joists on opposite sides of said girder.

(3. In apparatus o'l the character described: a plurality of joists; means for supporting said joists by their ends bet veen parallel steel girders, said supporting means comprising guiding members on each joist having openings and a slidable bolt reciproally movable therein: a trough adapted to be supported under one of said girders: a supporting rod beneath the bottom of said trough passing through openings in said guiding members on joists on opposite sides of said girder. said guiding members having a plurality of openings adapted to receive the sliding bolt and the supporting rod. the distance between centers ot the openings for receiving said bolt being equal to the distance between centers ot the openings for receiving said supporting rod.

7. In apparatus of the character described: a plurality o'l joists: means for supporting said jo'its by their ends between parallel steel girders: cleats on the sides ot said joists: a plurality ot' spreaders adapted to he supported by said cleats between each pair of joists. each spreader having a horizoiitial side and a vertical side and having the verti *al side cut away near the ends: a pan adapted to be placed between each pair ot' joists resting on said spreaders: a beam lviiig across the ends of the spreaders be tween the vertical side of each spreader and the side face of the pan and adapted to force the lower edge of the side face or" the pan out ardly against the joists.

S. In apparatus t the character scribed; a plurality of joists; sotlit. boards on said joists; means For supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders: cleats on the sides ot said joists; a plurality of spreaders adapted to be supported by said cleats between each pair o l joists, each spreader having a horizontal side and a vertical side. and having the vertical side cut away near the ends; a pan adapted to be placed between each pair ot joists resting on said spreaders: a beam lying across the ends (it the spreaders between the vertical side of each spreadiu' and the side face of the pan and adapted to force the lower edge of the side taco ot the pan outwardly against the sotiit board.

fl. in appa 'atiis ot the character described: a plurality of joists; in ans for supporting said joists by their ends between parrllel steel girders; a plu 'ality ot spreaders adapted to be supported between pair or joists: a pan adapted to be between each pair ot joists resting d spreat ers: and a centrally arranged longitudinal supporting board carried by vertically :ti'ljustab e nicinbcrs rotatably mounted on said spreaders and adapted to support the top face of said pan.

it). In apparatus of the character described; a plurality of joists; means for supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders: cleats on the sides of said joists: a plurality of spreaders adapted to be supported by said cleats between each pair of joists, each spreader having a horizontal side and a vertical side and having the vertical side cut away near the ends: a pan adapted to be placed between each pair ol joists resting upon said spreaders; a beam lying across the ends of said spreaders between the vertical side ot each spreader and the side -lace of the pan and adapted to :t'erce the lower edge of the side Face of the pan outwardly against the joist: and a centrally arranged longitudinal supporting board carried by vertically adjustable members rotatably mounted on said spreaders and adapted to support the top 'lace ot said pan.

11. In apparatus ot the character described; a plurality of joists: means for supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders: cleats on the sides of said joists: a plurality oi" spreaders adapted to be supported by said cleats between each pair of joists: a pan adapted to be placed between each pair of joists resting upon said spreaders; vertically adjustable uprights carried by said spreaders: supports rotatably mounted on said uprights and adapted to carry a horizontal pan-supporting member.

12. In apparatus of the character described; a plurality of joists; ineans tor supporting said joists by their ends betwee lot) spreaders adapted to be supported between each pair of joists; a pan adapted to be placed between each pair of joists resting on said spreader-s, said pan comprising four sheet-metal sections each having a vertical side face, a vertical end face, and a horizontal top face, the four sections adapted to be placed together with their faces overlapping to form a pan having a top face, two side faces, and two end faces, and an open bottom; a centrally arranged vertically adjustable longitudinal supporting board carried by said spreaders and adapted to support the top'face of said pan; means for rigidly securing the top of said pan to saidv supporting board.

13. in apparatus of the character described; a'plurality of joists; means for supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders; a plurality of spreaders adapted to be supported between each pair of joists resting on said spreaders; and a centrally arranged longitudinal supporting board carried by members rotatably ,mounted on said spreaders and support the top face of said pan.

14. In apparatus of the character described; a plurality of joists; means for supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders; cleats on the sides of said joists; a plurality of spreaders adapted to be supported by said cleats between each pair of joists, each spreader having a horizontal side and a Vertical side and having the vertical side cut away near the ends; a

pan adapted to be placedbetween each pair of joists resting upon said spreaders; a beam lying across theends of said spreaders between the vertical side of each spreader and the side face of the pan and adapted to force the lower edge of the side face of the pan outwardly against the j oist; and a centrally arranged longitudinal supporting board carried by members rotatably mounted on said spreaders and adapted to support the top face of said pan.

15. In apparatus of the character described; a plurality of joists; means for supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders, said supporting means comprising members carried by'said joists adapted to rest on the lower flange of adapted to the girder; a trough adapted to be supported under one of sand girders; means carried by joists on opposite sides of a girder for supporting said trough; and means for adjusting the joist supporting means and the trough supporting means with respect to the joint whereby the height of the joist with respect to the bottom flange of the girder will be changed, but the position of the trough with respect to the lower flange of the girder will remain the same.

16. In apparatus of the character described; a plurality of joists; adjustable means for supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders; a trough adapted to be supported under one of said girders; and adjustable means for supporting said trough, said trough support-ing means carried by joists on opposite sides of a girder. I

17. In apparatus of the character described; a plurality of joists; an adjustable means for supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders; a trough adapted to be supported under one of said girders; and adjustable means for supporting said trough, said trough supporting means carried by joists on opposite sides of a girder; the adjustment of the joist s-up-' to the girder while maintaining the position of the trough with respect to said girder the same.

18. In apparatus of the character described; a plurality of joists; adjustable means for supporting said joists by their ends between parallel steel girders, said supporting means adaptedto rest on the lower flange of a girder; a trough adapted to be supported under'one of said girders; and adjustable means for supporting said trough; the adjustment of the joist supporting means and the trough supporting means with respect to the joist permitting raising or lowering of the joist while maintaining the position of the trough with respect to the lower flange of the girder the same.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of November A. D.

EDWARD E. DAVIS. 

